A recent report by a sub-committee of the Manipur Cabinet has shed light on the presence of 2,187 illegal immigrants from Myanmar who have established settlements in 41 locations across four districts.
Headed by Letpao Haokip, Minister of Tribal Affairs and Hill Development, the sub-committee conducted a thorough investigation, revealing that the highest concentration of 1,147 Myanmar nationals currently resides in Tengnoupal. Following closely, there are 881 in Chandel, 154 in Churachandpur, and five in Kamjong.
During the months of March and April, the sub-committee, which also includes state Ministers Awangbow Newmai and Thounaojam Basanta, visited the tribal-dominated districts, engaging with the illegal immigrants to discuss possible humanitarian relief and shelter options.
Prior to the eruption of ethnic violence on May 3, the Manipur government had planned to identify the Myanmar nationals who had previously sought asylum in the state and house them in designated detention centers.
Around 5,000 immigrants, including women and children, have fled Myanmar since the military assumed power in February 2021, seeking refuge in neighboring areas.
Haokip, along with nine other tribal MLAs, has advocated for a separate administration following the outbreak of ethnic violence on May 3. Seven of these MLAs, including Haokip, belong to the BJP party.
Last week, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh attributed the ongoing unrest in the state to infiltrators from across the border and militants, emphasizing that it is not a conflict between two communities.
Manipur shares an unfenced border of approximately 400 km with Myanmar, contributing to challenges related to border control and illegal immigration.
An official report highlights that the identification of such a large number of illegal immigrants in the initial phase has caused panic among the settled immigrants in the state.
“As part of the identification process, it was observed that the illegal immigrants from Myanmar had formed their own settlements. Objections were raised during this identification exercise, with the immigrants being informed that the government would provide shelter homes for them. The proposal was met with strong resistance, and this became one of the contributing factors to the recent outbreak of violence,” stated the report obtained by IANS.
The report also points out that the Manipur government’s “War on Drugs” campaign has significantly impacted the poppy cultivation and narcotics trade operated by Myanmar nationals in the state. Consequently, influential illegal poppy cultivators and drug lords from Myanmar settling in Manipur have played a role in fueling the recent violence.
Various Kuki Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have accused the Manipur government of harassing Indian citizens under the pretext of identifying illegal immigrants. The Kuki community asserts their long-standing presence in the hills of Manipur, including their historical involvement in the Anglo-Kuki War (1917-1919) against the British.
“Chief Minister N. Biren Singh’s BJP-led government aims to label legitimate Indian Kuki tribes as illegal immigrants,” alleged Kuki CSOs on multiple occasions.
The state has been deeply affected by ethnic violence between the Meitei community, predominantly residing in the valley, and the Kuki tribe, predominantly inhabiting the hills. The clashes have resulted in the deaths of over 120 individuals and left more than 400 people injured from various communities.
